Printing or postmarking machine.



R. A. BOSWELI..

PRINTING 0R POSTNIARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I6. 1913. La Paten-tea 00s. 23, 191?.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. A. BOSWELL.

PRINTING 0R POSTMARKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1913.

gnomo@ Patented Oct. 23, 1917'.

4 SHEETS-#SHEET 3- R. A. BOSWELL.' I PRINTING 0R POS'TWIARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION' FILED ysxEP'T. 1s. 191.3.

Patented oet. 23,"19171- 4 SHEETS-'SHEET 4.

maar sra is fran .ROBERT A. BOSWEA'L'L, 4or Wasirne'on, i'JIs'TnIcin orconclusie..

Painiriiveoa rosrivrnitiine insomnia.

Laassee.

speaoaeoatfteaea rae-1e "Patenten dat. as, teit'.

Application ala septemt'er 1e, 1913. sel-iai No. 790,033.

T0 all lw/wm t maf] concern: y

Be it `known that I, Renner A; BosWnLL, a citizen .of the United Statesof America', residing at ashington city, District 'of Celumbia, haveinvented neiv and useful Printing` or Postmarking` Machines, of whichthe following is a specication.' y

This invention pertains to printing machines in general and topost-marking and stamp-canceling' machines in particular. Primarily, itis a machine designed to increase the range of mechanisms in its classand to that end is provided `with devices that will accomplish thisresult most elf'ectively.

lWhether post-marking' machines are constructed Withintermittentlyoperated lprinting; hubs or continuously rotating printing` cylinders,it has heretofore been found necessary to provide some device in tliepath 0f the` letter with Which the letter may co-act to effect theprinting' operation; i

These devices which project into the letter path possess the inherentfault of tearing the edges of matter to be printed upon unless they aremost sensitively constructed, this liability to disligurement increasingafs the thickness of the mail or `othermatter diminishes.

In the machine on ywhich `it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, anintermittently op-v erated printing member is employed, but the lettersencounter no sort of mechanical device in their transit, Vsimplypassing` be# tween a series of rolls Where the necessary printingr`operations are eiiected by ineans of various electrical connections anddisconnections that `will be hereinafter described.

The elimination of the mechanical letter'- tripped device obviouslyextends the useful# ness of the machine, and, at such timesr as it isnot engaged in the cancellation of mail,

.it may be used for the printing of what is known in post officeparla/nce as facing` slips.

The drawing; illustrates what at present seems to be the mostsatisfactory arrange# ment of parts, but the inventor realizes that, inthe practical application of his device, certain changes and alterationsmay suggest themselves and these he reserves the right to make. if by sodoing` he does not depart from the spirit of his invention or deviatefrom his annexed claims.

ln thev drawings which accompany this application and form a partthereof z- Figure 1 is a plan view of a'y machine showing theapplication. of the invention n rolls. l y

and the position of the various parts when no mail is beine` canceled.

Fig'. 2 is a similar plan showingthe series of operations that ensueafter 'a letter or cai-d passes between the supplementary Vfeed Fig. 3is a perspective vievv of the main release magnet. 7

Fig. l1 is a perspective vieiv of the contact block and its attendantblow-out magnet.

Fig; 5 is a perspective vievv of the detaining'dcam.

y Fig. Gis alongitudinal elevation of the auxiliary `contact magnet. 1 i

Fig. 7 is a transverse elevation ofthe same magnet. i r

Fig. 8 is a `perspective' vievv of the auX- iliary contact magnetshowing* clearly the Shape of the arm and horns. Y

Fig; 9 is a section on the line c-rt Fig.- 1.

Fig. 10 is a section on 4the line bf-b of.

Fig. 1;

Fig'. mechanism showing a different form of ac tuating means.

Fig. `12 is a sectional view on line c-c Of Fig. ll; i I o Fig'. 13 isanother modification of the principles involved; an electric lgeneratortaking the place of the battery 103 as the current supplying` means.

Fig. letis a section on the line '-g/ 'of Fig. 13, looking 1n thedirect-lon ofthe arrovvs.

.Figz y15 shoivs the same partsillustrated in Fig. 1d (the clutch 122being eliminated) and is intended to show the position fof the triplever and its attendant links at the moment of liberating the drivenmember of the clutch. v Y

Referring; to the drawings,

1 is a bed 'plate which is divided into a feedingA portion, a, aprinting portion and a stacking portion c. Belovi'7 1 is a similar bedplate 2 and thesetvvo bed plates are connected by any suitablemechanical-means to form a compartment for housing' those parts of themachine which are not necessarily exposed. .Above 1 is mounted the feedroller 3 secured to the shaft a and .having the rubber-boundperiphery 5.Adjacent to 8 isl 11 is a plan view'. of the printing feed couplecomposed of the'rollers 12 and 13 mounted on the shafts 14 and 15.VBetween 15 and 13 is the insulating` bushing 16 which insulates the roll13 from the body of the machine, while the circumferential slot 17 (inwhich the brush 18 slides) forms suitable means for conveying current tothe roller 13.

The brush V13 is slidably held against the pressure of a spring` 18 inthe tube 19 which is secured in the eye of a perpendicular stud 20 bymeans of a suitable set screw 21. This stud 20 is held on the bed plate1 by the agency of a screw 22 which penetrates it after having passedthrough the insulating bushing 23.

The shaft 15 is shouldered at 15a where it enters the yielding bearingbracket 24 and is slotted at its lower end to receive the universalcoupling rod 25. A short shaft 26 with a slot in its upper end similarto that in 15 rotates in a fixed bearingin bed plate 27 being heldagainst vertical movement by the shoulder 27 and the hub 28 of gear 29.

The bearing arm or bracket 24 is pivotally mounted on the under side ofthe bed plate 1 and is capable of movement on the stud 30 against thetension .of the spring 31. i The' shaft 14 which supports the roll 12has suitable bearings in bed plates 1 and 2 and terminates in gear 32,from which it receives its motion. A collar'33 serves as a verticalsupport.

The printing couple is Composed of the impression roll 34 having aresilient periphery and a printing member 35, this latter member bein gadapted to engage frictionally the felt inlring roller 3.6 which isdesigned to rotate loosely on the fixed stud 37. rlhe impression memberrevolves with its shaft 39 in the yielding bearing bracket 33, theshoulder40, the coupling rod 42, the shaft 43 and the gear performingthe same functions as their counter-parts connected with the roll 13.rThe bracket 45, however, serves as a vertical support for the shaft 43in lieu of a collar or shoulder.

The printing member is carried by vthe upper end of a. magneticallyjointed shaft, the driven portion 46 of which rotates in a fixed bearingin the bed plate 1 and in the bore of the clutch member 47. To thisdriven portion 46 and between its points of support, the detaining cam49 and the clutch member 50 are fastened by means of appropriate setscrews. rlhe driving portion of the clutch is cylindrical in shape,being provided with a hub 51 having a set screw 51a by which the drivingportion is secured to the shaft 52. The walls 53 and 547 together withthe sole 55, are integral with this hub and form a compartment for thereception of an appropriate winding for magnetizing this member. Aninsulated slip ring 56 eneircles the outer circumference of the driverand to this ring one end of the windiiig is connected. while the otherend is connected metallically to the driver itself. rlhe gear 57 fast,on the shaft 52 communicates motion to the clutch driver and the thrustof the whole is taken by the pivot screw 53 projecting through thebracket 59. A ball 60 intervenes between shafts 52 and 46 and the brush61 pressing on the slip ring 56 carries current to the clutch. Brushholder stud 63 and brush sleeve 64 are similar to the equivalent partsof brush 13 and support the brush 61 and are themselves supported in thesame way.

Stacker feed rolls 5 tated like rolls 12 an@L 13 (with the exception ofneither being insulated from its shaft) and feed the letters into thestacker C beside the guide fence 67, from which they are crowded againstthe stacker back 68 by means of the stacker cam 69.

Motionmay'be communicated to the machine by supplying power to anyconvenient spindle7 the idle gears 70, 71, 72 and 73 contributing toform the train of gears knecessary to put all parts in rotation.

The main release magnet 74 isa cylindrical coil of wire supported by theend pieces 75 and 76, piece '7 6 havingy a bifurcated are mounted androhinge portion 77 by which the armature 78 and its detent 79 aresupported. A pin 8O penetrates the eyes of 77 and a similar eye in 7 3and permits movement of 7 3 thereon. Angular brackets 81 are screwed toand 76 respectively, and secure 74 to the under side of bed plate 1.

The auxiliary Contact magnet 32 is siniilarly supported on the underside ,of bed plate 1 by the brackets 33, the end pieceA 34 serving as ahinged support for the contactor 85. The endpiece is bifurcated to formthe prongs 37 which straddle the contacter 35 and aid it in making thelong sweep when the magnet 82 is energized.

The detaining cam 49 has an irregular periphery in which the recess 33ais formedr A hub integral with the cam and an eye 85 penetrating thewhole form the necessary means lfor attaching this member to the shaft46.

The contact block 36*1 with its associated blowput magnet 37a forms oneof the links of the auxiliary operating means, which is located at somesuitable location ren'iote from the letter path. This block 86a is heldbetween the fixed pivot 83 andthe adjustable pivot 89 'and a spiralspring 90 distended between the eyes 91 and 92, serves to hol d it inlongtiudinal relation with the legs of the stirrup magnet 37a.insulating strip 93 occupies a portion of one side of the block 36a atthe end remote from the spring v90. rThe contact block and itsconcomitant parts are sustained on the under side ,of bed plate 1 byappropriate screws 97? the'insulation 98 inter-posing between the bedplate and the stirrup magnet 87a. r1`he free ends of 87v are bent, asshown on the drawings, so that a magnetic field may be projected vacrossthe point at which the contactor ceases to engage block 86a.

Y Part 99 is an adjustable stop forthearmature 78 and part 100 is aVfixed stop for cont-actor 85, while 101 and 102v are operating springsfor 78 and S5.

The Vital parts of this machine are electrically operated and currentmay be derived from any proper source. The drawings show it as beingsupplied from the battery 103, one terminal of which is connected to thebody of the machine at point 10a.

rlhe main release magnet 74 is energized by current which flows from 103over the wires 105 and 106, around the winding of 74, leaving by wire107, and afterpassing over the stirrup 87, the block 86l and thecontactor 85V .returns over the body of the machine to 104 and thence tothe battery.

l rEhe clutch receives energy'oyer the wires 105 and 108, the stud 63,the tube Galand the brush 61, the return being over the body of themachine; while the magnet is energized through the agency of the wires105 and 109, the return being over the wire 110, the tube 19, the brush18, the insulated roll' 13, the roll 12 and the body Vof the machine.

)When the mechanism is to be operated, the parts are in the positionshown in Fig. 1, the detent 7 9 engaging the notch 83 of the detentplate 19 and the magnet S2 (being energized) attracting the contacterS5. 1f no mail is passing, the printing wheel and its associated shaftwith what members are attached thereto. is held stationary, althoughthere is a magnetic attraction between the driven clutch member 50 andthe driving member composed of parts 53, 51 and 55.

1When it is desired. to cancel mail, the chute a is lled with a. stackof letters and, as each succeeding piece is fed forward by the feed roll3, it passes between rolls 12 and 13. thus insulating them'from eachother. This action dcnergizes the magnet 82 (which. as heroinbeforestated, has a subsidiary dampening electric circuit connection with Athegenerating circuit and with the feed rolls 12 and 13) and allows the4contacter 85 to be drawn back against the stop 100. during whichoperation itwipes against'the face of theblocli 86, thus closing thecircuit on the magnet 741 causing it to attract its armature .78 andwithdrawing the detent 79 from the detent cam 49. The printing member isthen free to rotate and is driven by the magnetic attraction Vthatexists between thc driven member 50 and the continuously rotating member'attached to the shaft 52.

After each letter passes from between rolls 12 and 13, the circuit ofmagnet 82'ils 1n the description of the general operal tion of themachine, the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has been adhered to, butthe preferable construction. is thatv shown in 11, 12, 1S, 1li, and 15,and it is to this latter arrangement of parts that the more specific`Yclaims are drawn. Many of the parts in Figs. 11, 12, 18, 14, and 15 arelike (in construction if not in proportions) to their equivalents inFigs. 1 and 2. f Similar characters of reference, therefore, designatethese Vparts in all the figures.

The printing couple in Fig'. 12 differs from that in Fig. 9 in thatthere is a slig t variation of the clutch mechanism. r1`he brackets l5and 59 are also dispensed with and the 'collar 120 and hub 121 performtheir functions. The driven portion of the clutch is identical with thatin Fig. 9, its parts being similarly designated. The driving portion,however, is slightly modified, the hollow cylinder 122 being integralwith the hub-121. The spool 123 (of some nonmagnetic material) is madeto fit within the cylinder and while carrying the winding 12e forms anappropriate bearing for kthe shaft 40. The collector ring 125 is securedtothe under side of the cylinder by any suitable means, an appropriateinsulating st 1ip 126 interyening'. One end of the windis connected tothis ring while the other is grounded to the body of the'clutch.

,The detent 127 herein shown is made up of the bifurcatcd arm 12S whichcarries a` roll 129 sustained by apin 130. 181 connected between thehook 132 and the stud 133 serves to hold the detent in engagement withthe cam 19. Projecting downwardly from the upper bed plate 1 is a stud136, 4on which the hollow .rock shaft 1311 swivelly rocks. Carried inany suitable manne-r by the hollow rock shaft adjacent one end thereofis the detent arm 127 projecting in one direction. Supplied in any'suitable manner on the rock shaft adjacent the other end thereof is thehorn shapedtrip lever 135, which extends or curves :in a direction atright angles to the direction, 'in which the detent extends, andterminates in a position adjacent the bore of the tripfmagnet'137,-so asto be struck by the plunger 141 ofsaid magnet 137.- Y

rf he trip magnet 13T is of the iron clad plunger type, the outer, shell138 and the caps 139 being of some n'lagnetic'material.

A spring ilo A tube 14:0 protrlides from onewend of the Y magnet and isa non-magnetic substance. lt

acts as a guide and support for the movablel plunger 141. A spring 142connected to the end of the plunger holds it normally against theprotuberance 143 and the tension on this spring can be varied by meansof the screw 144. The trip magnet a whole is supported by the bracket145 on the lower bedplate 2.

A dierential winding (two coils whose magnetizing forces oppose eachother) provides the operating force for 137, one terminal of onewinding` being` connected to the battery 103 by the wire 146 and theother terminal of the same winding being` connected to the body of themachine at the point 147. @ne lead of the opposed winding is joined tothe ba tery by means of the wires 143 and 146 while the other lead isconnected to the brush 13 by the wire 149.

When no mail is passing through the machine the circuits on bothwindings are closed and being opposed to each other no attracting` forceis Xerted on the plunger 141, but, when a letter enters thesupplementary feed rolls, the circuit of one winding is broken by theseparation of the rolls 12 and 13. rlhis leaves the other winding freeto act and the plunger 141 is attracted hitting the trip lever 135(which is constructed and arranged, as hereinbefore set forth, so as tobe struck by the plunger 141) and disengaging the detent 127 from thecamY 49 whereupon t ie clutch rotates the die-- cylinder.

After the letter has passed the rolls 12 and 13 again contact, the opencircuited winding is closed and the former conditions are restored toawait the next letter.

. When the rolls 12 and 13 are separated the self-inductance of thewinding being in series with said rolls would under normal conditionscause sparking at the point where the rolls separate and the higl'ilyonidiL/.ing properties of this spark would soon resultin corrosion ofthe rolls. This, however, is avoided by the differential winding.Self-inductance is caused by the collapse of the magnetic field on acoil of wire; but in this invention there is no self-induction in thecoil which is opened as its magnetic field is neutralized by that of theopposing coil. Consequently, there is no spark on the separation of therolls 12 and 13 and they are kept free from corrosion.

1n Figs. 13, 14 and 15 all the essential. parts of the machine are thesame as in other figures except as will be hereinafter pointed out. j

r1`lie cam 49 is dispensed with as is also 'he magnet 139 and thebattery 103. ln place of 49 a roll 200 rotatable on the screw stud 201-is mounted on the driven member 122LL of the clutch and, when 122a is atrest, the roll 200 engages the enlarged forward end of the detent 202.,The detent 202 is provided with a sleeve portion 204 by which it issecured to the under side of bed plate 1 by the screw stud 205. Aspring` 203 stretched between the stud 206 and the projection 207 servesto hold detent 202 normally in engagement with the roll 200.

rlhe generator g is of the series type, the armature 208 revolvingbetween the field poles 209. |The shaft 210 supports this armature(together with its commutator' 211) being journaled in the pillow blocks212 which are secured to the bed plate 2 by appropriate screws 213.rllhe iield poles 209 are also secured to 2 by screws 214. Brushes 215and 216 are identical in construction to brush 19, but brush 215 isinsulated from bed plate 2 while brush 216 is not.

rlhe upper eld pole 209 has a bifurcated projecting arm 217 at rightangles to it, while the lower pole 209 also has a right angularprojection 218 directed upward. rlhe object of this upwardly directedeX- tension 218 is to concentrate the magnetic lield in the vicinity ofthe Vtrip armature 219. Between the upper and lower iield poles 209 isthe series field coil 220, its core being shown in dotted lines in Fig.14.

lllhe trip armature 219 is held in 217 by the pin 223 and has a tongue221 engaging the forward end of a pawl link 222. The rear end of 222 isblended into 'a bifurcated eye by which itis joined to links 224 and 225with the aid of the pin 226. An integral projection 227 extending upwardcontacts with the screw 223 which (passing through a threaded hole inthe depending projection 229) is prevented from turning by a jam nut230.

A forked protuberance 231 on the upper pole 209 receives the lower endof link 224, pin retaining it therein. rl`he upper end of 224 is aforked eye, which, after straddling the forward eye of link 225 andbeing itself straddled by the forked eye of link 222 is connected to 222and 225 by the pin 226.

'llhe rear end of 225 has also a forked eye by which it is connected tothe detent 202 by the pin 233.

The series field coil 220 is connected to the brush 64 by the wire 234and to the brush 215 by wire 235. A wire 236 runs from brush 215 tobrush 19.

When no mail is passing, rolls 12 and 13 are together. The series fieldis then shortcircuited and g will fail to generate; any current presenttending to travel from brush 215 over wire 236 to brush 19, to roll 13.,to roll 12, to the body of the machine and back to brush 216. rlhecurrent thus avoids the field coil 220 and prevents g from building up.

wWhen a letter is between 12 and 13, this short-circuit is opened atthat point (the letter being an insulator) and g is then in masses astatus to build. up; currentv leaving by` brush 215, passing` over thewire 235 around the coil 220 over the wire 234 to brush 64, to theclutch winding, to the body of the machine and back to brush 216.

rlhe coil 220 being thus energized it iutensies the generating power ofg and at the same time attractsthe trip armature 219 (against the actionof the spring 2191 connected to the stud 219A) and whose tongue 221pulling on the pawl 222 draws the set of links forward causing thedetent 202 to liberatek the driven member of the clutch. llt the sametime that 222 is being drawn forward, it is also being lifted by 227pressing against 228 until when 221 hasreached the limit of its movement222 will be in a position to clear it and the vspring ,203, will returnthe detent and the links to their former position'in time for the detentto arrest the driven clutch member after it has made one revolution.

The Generator g may be driven by any suitable means. Fig. 13 shows itdriven by a belt 250 and pulley 251.

rlhe invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and usefulis 1. In a postmarking machine, a shaft comprising a driving portionandra driven portion, a printing member movable with the driven portion,a feed couple comprising separable rolls, means for retardlng the drivenportion, and a second means remote from the direct letter path of themachine and having coperating connections with the rolls, which, whenseparated actuates the second means, which in turn has coperatingconnections with and operates the retarding` means causing the same torelease the driven portion.

2. ln a postmarking machine, a shaft comprising a driving portion and adriven portion adapted to be intermittently magnetically coupled, aprinting member on the driven portieri, a feed couple comprisingseparable feed rolls, means for retardin g the driven portion, and asecond means remote from the direct letter path of the machine andhaving cooperating connection with said rolls, which, when separatedactuates the second means, which in turn has coperat-I ing connectionswith `and operates the retarding means for coupling and uncoupling thedriving and driven portions.

3. ln a postmarkingl machine, an interv mittently operated revolubleprinting member, means for retarding said printing member, ymeanscomprising a pair of separable feed rolls forming parts of the walls ofthe path of the mail,said rollshaving connections with the retardingmeans, whereby when said rolls separate said retardingv means areactuated through said connections to release and stop Vsaid printingmember.V

l. In a postmarking machine, a printing signed to close the firstcircuit, thereby ac-` tuating the retarding `means to. :release the yprintingV member. i

5. In a postmarking machine, a printing couple including a printingmember, an electric circuit, a pair of separable feed rolls constitutinga part of said circuit which rolls keep the circuit normally closed,another circuit, a device to. retard the printing member, an element inthe first circuit,

mea-ns for mechanically actuating said element when the first circuit isopened, anoscillatory member in thepsecond circuit contacted with bysaid element for closing the second circuit to actuate said devicetorelease the printing member. Y

6. In a postmarking machine, a revoluble printing couple including a.printing member, an electric circuit, a letter path comprising separablewalls constituting a part .of said circuit, the separation of the wallsresulting in the opening of" the circuit, and means mechanicallyactuated. when the circuit is broken, and electro-mechanical mechanismoperated by said last mentioned means for controlling the rotation ofthe printing member. 1 f

7. In a postmarking machine, a printing couple comprising a revolubleprinting member, an electric. circuit, a device in the circuit forretarding the printing member, an oscillatory element in said circuit, asecond circuit, a letter path, a feed couple com'- prising separablefeed members constituting the walls of said path, said feed members,being in the second circuit and forming a part thereof, means normallycontrolled by the second circuit, spring means for the last means, theseparation of the feed members of the letter path acting to break thesecond circuit, thereby allowing the spring means to actuate the firstmeans to contact with the oscillatory element for closing the firstcircuit which actuates said device to release the printing member.

8. In a post marking machine, a normally opened electric circuit, anormally. closed electric-circuit having separable contact, memberstherein and forming a 'part thereof, aprinting couple including aprinting member, means in the normal-ly opened circuit for controllingsaid printing-member, amechanical device to be actuated to close thenormally opened circuit for actuating said means, and a spring tensionedmechanical element controlled by the normally closed circuit to contactwith the first mentioned mechanical device, 'when said closed circuit isbroken by the separation ofsaid contact members, thereby closing thefirst circuit and operating said means to effect the release of theprinting member.

9; ln a postmarking machine, a revoluble printing couple, anelectriccircuit, a spring tensioned device in and forming a part of saidcircuit to retard the printing member of the printing couple, a secondnormally closed circuit, a feed couple forming a part of said closedcircuit comprising separable feed rolls, which when separated act toopen the normally closed circuit, and means between the two circuits forclosing the first circuit as a result of breaking the second circuit toactuate said device to release the printing member.

l0. ln a postmarking machine, a printing couple including a retardedprinting member, an attendant feed couple comprising separable rolls,means for retarding the printing member, an operating device to actuatethe printing member when the same is released, a normally opened circuitincluding means to actuate the retarding means to release the printingmember When the circuit is closed, a second normally closed circuit inWhich said separable rolls form a link, whereby the separation of saidrolls act to open said closed circuit, and means connecting thecircuits, whereby, upon opening the closed circuit, the first circuit isclosed to actuate the retarding means, thereby effecting the release ofthe printing member.

' 11. ln a postmarking machine, a printing` couple including a retardedprinting` member, an attendant feed couple comprising separable feedrolls, a generating device, a continuously established normally dormantelectric circuit including said generating device, means for retardingthe printing member, and designed to be controlled by said establishedcircuit, a subsidiary dampening circuit including said generating deviceand said feed couple, the separation of said separable rolls designedfor so manipulating said dampening circuit, as to render active, thecontinuously established circuit and cause said means to release saidprinting member. Y

l2. ln a postmarking machine, a revoluble printing couple, a feed couplecomprising separable rolls, and means remote from the direct letter pathwhen said rolls are separated for controlling the rotation of saidprinting couple, means for retarding. the printing member anddesigned tobe actuated by the first means to release the printing member, saidfirst means including two the separation ofsuch rolls circuits,onerbeingnormally open and designed to control the second means, theother circuit being normally closedand including the separable rolls asa part thereof, acting to open the normally closed circuit, therebyresulting in closing the normally open circuit.

13. ln a post marking machine; a printing couple including a printingmember; means for retarding said member; two electric circuits, onebeing normally closed and controlling the other, which is normally openand controls said means; separable electric connectors in the closedcircuit, which when separated opens the closed circuit, Which results inclosing the. open circuit to operate the means to release the printingmember.

14:. ln a post marking machine, a pril ing couple including a printingmember, a device for retarding said member; dual means, one being inoperation, but inactive, the other being dormant but adapted forcontrolling said device, meins whereby the former controls the latter;and a pair of separable parts, which, when separated, causes the formerto so control the latter, rendering it active, whereby the latteroperates the device to release the printing member.

l5. ln a postmarking machine, a revoluble printing member, a detentretarding the same, a pair of electric circuits having Vconnections andone being closed normally and the other normally open, and a pair ofmembers in the closed circuit sepa 'able by the mail matter opening theclosed circuit to close the open circuit through said connections, theclosing of the open circuit actuating the vdetent to release theprinting member.

1G. ln a postmarking machine, a revoluble printing member, a det-entreta rding the same and having an armature, spring means therefor, apair of circuits having .intermediate mechanical connections, onecircuit being normally closed and the other normally open, a magnet insaid open circuit` a pair of separable feed members in the normallyclosed circuitadapted to be separated by the mail matter opening theclosed circuit, Which closes the open circuit through said connectionsenergizing the magnet and attracting the armature to release the detentof the printing member.

17. ln a post marking` machine, a revoluble printing couple, a detentfor the printing member thereof, separable feed rolls for thecouple,'and means of connection between the feed rolls and the detent,whereby as the feed rolls are separated the detentV is actuated torelease the printing couple.

18. In a post marking machine, a revoluprintingl member of theV bleprinting member, a detent retarding the saine, a pair of feed rolls forthe printing member, and electrical connections between the feed rollsand the detent, whereby as the feed rolls are seperated the deteiit isactuated to release said printing member.

19. ln a post marking machine, a revoluble printing member, a. detentretail-ding the same, al pair of feed rolls for the printing member, andcombined electrical and mechanical connections between the feed rollsand the detent, whereby as the feed rolls are separated the detent isactuated to lease said printing member.

20. ln a post marking machine, a printing couple, means for retardingthe printing member thereof and including an electric circuit normallyopened so that the'retard.- ing means holds the printing member, anormally' closed circuit, a feeding couple comprising separable rolls insaid closed circuit and forming a. link therein, and connections betweensaid circuits, whereby the separation of said rolls opens their circuit,and closes tlie first circuit through said connections, therebyactuating the retarding means to eect the release of the printingmember.

2l. In a post marking machine, a printing couple, means for retardingthe printing member thereof and including an electric circuit normallyopened so that the retarding means holds the printing member, a normallyclosed circuit, a feeding couple comprising separable rolls in saidclosed circuit and forming a link therein, and elements remote from theletter path and adapted to connect said circuits, whereby the separationof said rolls opens their circuit and closes the first circuit throughsaid elements, thereby actuating the retarding means to effect therelease of the printing member.

9.2. ln a printing` machine, an electric circuit normally openedincluding a. revoluble printing couple therein, means normallycontrolled by said normally opened circuit for retarding the printingmember ofthe printing couple, a second electric circuit normally closed,a feed couple comprisingl separable rolls in said closed circuit andforming a link therein, a device remote from the letter path and in saidopen circuit, a

contact member held out of contact with said device by the secondcircuit, whereby the separation of the rolls opens the second circuitallowing the release of said contact member, and means to move saidcontact member to engage with said device toclose the first circuit toactuate the retarding means whereby the release of the printing memberis eected. Y Y y Q3. ln a post marking machine,l a revoluble printingcouple, an electric circuit normally opened in which the printing memberof the couple is included as a link in said circuit, means controlled bysaid normally opened circuit for retarding` the printing member of theprinting couple, a second electric circuit normally closed including afeed couple therein comprising separable rolls,

a contact member controlled by the 'second Y circuit, the first circuitincluding a device remote'from the letter path, the separation of theAfeed rolls resulting in opening the n' second circuit,mechanical meansforcausing said contact member to contact with said device to close thefirst circuit, to actuate the retarding .means to release the printingmember. Y

2e. In a post marking machinea revoluble printing couple, an electriccircuit nory yinally opened, in which the printing member of the coupleis included as aV link said circuit, means controlled by said normallyopened circuit :for retarding the printing member of the printingcouple, 'a second electric circuit normally closed including'a feedcouple Vtherein comprising separable rolls, a rcontact member controlledby the f second circuit, the first circuit including a device remotefrom the letter path, the separation of the feed rolls resulting inopening the second circuit,-mechanism for causing said contact memberto4 contact with said deing means, and connections between the separablemeans and the retarding means,

whereby as the separable means separate, the retardmg means act torelease the printing member.

26. ln apost marking machine, a revolu- Y ble printing'couple,inter-dependent electric circuits, means in one circuit for re tardingthe printing member of said couple, forwarding means forming a link inand adapted to make and .break the other circuit,

-and'connections between said circuits, whereby upon breakingiof theforwarding means circuit, the other circuit is established, therebyactuating said retarding means'to effectthe release of the printingmember.

27. ln a post marking machine, a revolu- `ble printing couple, retardingmeans for the printing member thereof, an electric normally openedcircuit adapted for controlling the retarding means, asecond electriccircuit havingconnections with the i'irst circuit, a

pair of separable feed members constituting a part of the secondcircuit,y whereby upon the separation of vthe feed members, the

second circuit is opened, thereby resulting in closing the first circuitwhich actuates the retarding means to release the printing member forrotation.

28. ln a post marking machine, a revoluble printing couple, means forretarding the printing member thereof, and separable forwarding meanshaving electrical and mechanical connections with the retarding` means,whereby as the separable means separate the retarding means act torelease .the printing member.

29. ln a post marking machine; a printing couple including'a printingmember; means to retard said printing member; sepa rable means; dualmechanisms, one being controlled by the separable means, the othercontrolling said retarding means; means whereby the former of said dualmechanisms controls the latter of said mechanisms, so when the separablemeans separate, the latter aetuates the retarding means to release theprinting member. Y

30. In a post marking machine; a revoluble printing couple; retardingmeans for the printing member thereof; separable means; dualconnections, one controlling said retarding means, the other beingcontrolled by the separable means; and a device reniote from `the letterpath, whereby the former of said dual connections is controlled by thelatter, so when the separable means separate, t-he former actuates theretarding means to release the printing member. v

31. In a post marking machine, a revoluble printing couple, means forretarding the printing member thereof, separable forwarding means,elements cordinately aetnated by the separation of the separable meansto operate the retarding means whereby the release of the printingmember is effected.

3:2. in a post marking machine, a reyoluble printing couple, means forretarding the printing member thereof, separably forwarding means,elements cordinately actuated by the separation of the separable meansto operate the retarding means to eifect the release of the printingmember, said elements in vthemselves again Vbeing coordinately actuatedto cause the restoration naaaeoe of the retarding means to position,whereby the retardation of the printing means is effected.

ln a post marking machine, a revoluble printing couple, a detaining andreleasing device for the printing member thereof, forwarding means, andmeans connecting said forwarding means and the device, whereby uponsubstantially uniform operation ef said forwarding means'the printingmember is released and detained intermittently.

Bil. ln a post marking machine, the combination of an impression rollerand a print ing member coperable ther with, of a detaining and releasingdevice therefor, forwarding means operable substantially synchrononslyand uniformly, and means connecting the said forwarding means and lthedevice, whereby upon such operation lof said forwarding means, thealternate release and retardation of the printing member is effected. v

35. ln combination, an impression roller, a printing member coperabletherewith, a

cle-taining and releasing device therefor, for-y warding means operablesynchronously and uniformly, and electrical means connecting Isaidforwarding `means and the device, whereby upon such operation of saidforwarding means the alternate release and retardation of the printing`member is effected.

3G. ln combination, an impression roller, a printing member coperabletherewith, detaining and releasing means therefor, opposed forwardingmembers operable substantially synchronously and Vimiformly, andelectrical means connecting said opposed for.- warding members and thedetaining and releasing means, whereby npon such operation of saidforwarding members the alternate release and retardation of the printingmember is effected.

ln witness whereof, the applicantls signature, is hereunto aftlixed inthe presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT A. BOSELL.

Witnessesz A.. L. HOUGH, A. FowLna.

Copies of .this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, 'by addressingthe Commissioner ofrratents,

Washington, D. U.

